Ai Kotoba: Lyrics and Translation of Ayaka's Song

In this article, we will examine and break down the song Ai Kotoba (あいことば) by Japanese singer-songwriter Ayaka. Released in 2018 on her studio album 30 y/o, this poignant ballad achieved widespread recognition as the theme song for the mystery drama film Ningyo no nemuru ie (人魚の眠る家, known internationally as The House Where the Mermaid Sleeps), directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi and adapted from Keigo Higashino's novel.

The title Ai Kotoba [愛言葉] translates directly as words of love. It is an intentional linguistic play on the common Japanese homophone Aikotoba [合言葉], which means password, watchword, or secret sign. By substituting the opening character with the kanji for love [愛], Ayaka reimagines a guarded password as an enduring vow of affection between two people.

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Original Japanese lyrics of Ai Kotoba

Below you will find the complete Japanese lyrics of Ai Kotoba by Ayaka:

透明な愛言葉
今宵は
旅支度を確かめ

諦めない
1人でも大丈夫
エピローグ
抱き寄せて　離さない

私はあなたと
ずっとずっと未来を見ながら
永遠に愛します
例え　何があっても

もう一度　あの声が
もう一度　あの笑顔に会いたい

どうしてなの？
幾千の　生きる意味
神様に祈る度
繋がって

私はあなたと
ずっとずっと明日の希望を
願い続けます
例え　何があっても

私はあなたと
ずっとずっと未来を見ながら
永遠に愛します
例え　何があっても

ずっとずっときっと　希望を
ずっとずっときっと　未来を
ずっとずっときっと　明日を

透明な愛言葉

Verse by verse: translation and vocabulary breakdown

We will now translate Ai Kotoba line by line, analyzing the vocabulary, grammar, and kanji combinations. Lyrical Japanese often condenses emotion into subtle grammatical endings, so studying these lines offers a rewarding path for language learners looking to expand their reading comprehension through music, alongside classical pieces like Kimigayo and other authentic study methods.

Notice that we deliberately avoid adding romaji to every vocabulary entry, because we recommend moving beyond romaji early in your Japanese studies. Becoming accustomed to reading kana and kanji directly is essential if you want to build genuine reading confidence.

透明な愛言葉
toumei na aikotoba
Transparent words of love

• 透明 (toumei): transparent, clear
• 愛 (ai): love
• 言葉 (kotoba): words, language

今宵は 旅支度を確かめ
koyoi wa tabijitaku wo tashikame
Tonight, checking the travel preparations

• 今宵 (koyoi): this evening, tonight
• 旅支度 (tabijitaku): preparations for a journey or travel
• 確かめ (tashikame): checking, confirming (from the verb tashikameru)

諦めない 1人でも大丈夫
akiramenai hitori demo daijoubu
I will not give up, even alone I will be fine

• 諦めない (akiramenai): I will not give up (negative potential/plain form of akirameru)
• 1人 (hitori): one person, alone
• でも (demo): even, also
• 大丈夫 (daijoubu): alright, safe, okay

エピローグ 抱き寄せて　離さない
epiroogu dakiyosete hanasanai
An epilogue: hold me close and never let go

• エピローグ (epiroogu): epilogue
• 抱き寄せて (dakiyosete): embrace, pull close (te-form of dakiyoseru)
• 離さない (hanasanai): will not release, will not let go (negative form of hanasu)

私はあなたと ずっとずっと未来を見ながら
watashi wa anata to zutto zutto mirai wo minagara
Together with you, forever and ever, looking toward the future

• 私はあなたと (watashi wa anata to): I, together with you
• ずっとずっと (zutto zutto): forever, continuously
• 未来 (mirai): future
• 見ながら (minagara): while looking (combining the verb stem mi with the simultaneous particle nagara)

永遠に愛します 例え　何があっても
towa ni aishimasu tatoe nani ga attemo
I will love you eternally, no matter what happens

• 永遠に (towa ni): eternally, forever (in song lyrics, the kanji 永遠 is often vocalized as towa)
• 愛します (aishimasu): I love, I will love (polite form of aisu)
• 例え (tatoe): even if, supposing that
• 何があっても (nani ga attemo): no matter what happens, whatever may come

もう一度　あの声が もう一度　あの笑顔に会いたい
mou ichido ano koe ga mou ichido ano egao ni aitai
Once more to hear that voice, once more I want to see that smile

• もう一度 (mou ichido): once more, again
• あの (ano): that familiar, distant
• 声 (koe): voice
• 笑顔 (egao): smiling face, smile
• 会いたい (aitai): I want to meet, I want to see

どうしてなの？ 幾千の 生きる意味
doushite na no? ikusen no ikiru imi
Why must it be? Among thousands of meanings to life

This verse is intentionally elliptical in the lyrics. The sentence suspends the verb at the end of the line, creating an emotional bridge that resolves into the prayer of the following verse.

• どうして (doushite): why, for what reason
• なの (na no): explanatory question particle expressing personal emotion
• 幾千 (ikusen): thousands, countless
• 生きる (ikiru): to live, living
• 意味 (imi): meaning, significance

神様に祈る度 繋がって
kamisama ni inoru tabi tsunagatte
Connecting each time I pray to God

• 神様 (kamisama): God, deity
• 祈る (inoru): to pray
• 度 (tabi): each time, whenever
• 繋がって (tsunagatte): connecting, being linked together (te-form of tsunagaru)

私はあなたと ずっとずっと明日の希望を
watashi wa anata to zutto zutto ashita no kibou wo
Together with you, forever and ever, holding hope for tomorrow

• 私はあなたと (watashi wa anata to): I, together with you
• ずっとずっと (zutto zutto): continuously, forever
• 明日 (ashita): tomorrow
• 希望を (kibou wo): hope (marked by the grammatical direct object particle wo)

願い続けます 例え　何があっても
negai tsuzukemasu tatoe nani ga attemo
I will keep praying, no matter what happens

• 願い (negai): wish, prayer, request
• 続けます (tsuzukemasu): continue (from the compound verb negaitsuzukeru)
• 例え (tatoe): even if, supposing that
• 何があっても (nani ga attemo): no matter what happens

Review exercise: practicing the chorus and conclusion

From this point onward in the song, the core themes and phrases repeat with subtle variations. As a study exercise, analyze the following lines on your own by identifying the recurring expressions and noting the addition of kitto (きっと, meaning surely or certainly):

私はあなたと
ずっとずっと未来を見ながら
永遠に愛します
例え　何があっても

ずっとずっときっと　希望を
ずっとずっときっと　未来を
ずっとずっときっと　明日を

透明な愛言葉

Studying Japanese lyrics provides an enjoyable way to observe how poetic imagery and grammatical particles work in harmony. By breaking down compound verbs, conditional patterns, and everyday kanji in context, you gain an authentic feel for the language that textbooks alone cannot fully convey.